Stalk cutter



Sept 19, 1944- P. H. LYNCH, JR., Ala'r Al. 2,358,583

' STALK GUTTER A AFiledug. 5,'1943 2 sheets-sneetz Patented Sept. 19, 1944 l Y This isvenuenfremesto sinkenden,and-mere particularly to devices 'of f this Ycharacterintended vtocu't heavy stalks suc'hlas lthose of-cotton plants in the nldwith rapidity and ahighl degree 'of emcienc-y.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide' animproved stalkjcutter adapted to cut two rows of fstalks simultaneously, with means f or adjusting the cutters to adapt same to variations in the width of the rows.

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' A further object of the invention is to provide` a device of this character of improved and simplied construction, reducing the amount of material to a minimum, while at Vthe same time af-Y fording maximum strength and rigidity.

Further objects will more clearly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specication as part thereof, in which like'reference vrcharacters indicate like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved stalk cutter. Y

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective View of the weight tray. Y

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The frame of the improved stalk cutter comprises longitudinal spaced members I .-I of channel cross-section having their channels facing inwardly, and each of these channels is provided in the web portions with a plurality of spaced holes V2 through which bolts 3 can be selectively passed to secure in adjusted positions transverse bridge members 4, the ends of which are bent at right angles as at 5, and adapted to seat within the channels of the longitudinal members I.

The longitudinal members I are secured in their spaced parallel relationship by means of a tongue 6, also formed of channel cross-section fand secured transversely of the longitudinaly members and centrally thereof, as illustrated. The longitudinal members are further connected by arch members `I secured by their ends to the longitudinal members, or in the case of the central arch member, to the tongue immediatelyV above the longitudinal members by welding or other suitablek connection.' An axle 8 extends lengthwise of the frame, resting upon and being secured by welding or otherwise medially of and upon the arch members and traction Wheels 9 of this axle? lJournals I-l'lare mountedl as by' bolts u on each for thelbridge members# @rotatably supportthe-'cutters I2; each r'ofwhich comprise which #may "be"i seenredby"limits1erotherwise to the ends of the-spijderfarml s; Preferably, acentraisnen: Isl-of thmboardsfeonnectsthe spiders and operates to throw the cut stalk fragments clear of the cutters.

A weight tray I 1 is provided, comprising spaced bottom boards secured asby transverse 'cleats I9 with' side walls 20, and the central slot provided by spacing the bottom boards is of a widthA and depth adapted to'receive the axle 8 and thus .rigidly align the weight tray in position. Curved wedge blocks 2I are secured on the bottom face of the bottom boards I8, these wedge blocks being shaped to conform with the curvature of the arch members 'I. Y Y

The tongue 6 may be braced, if desired, as by i diagonal braces 22, and provided with a connection at its forward end for engagement with aY tractor. From the above description it will be apparent that the rotary cutters can be readily adjusted` lengthwise of the longitudinal frame members, and that the whole device combines extreme rigidity with relative lightness and a minimum use of steel. It can be readily conveyed to thee'ld Where the work is to be done on the tractio y wheels 9 and thereinverted for use. l f

Various modilications will readily suggest themselves to those` skilled in the art, but within the scopeof ythe present invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim: Y

l. A stalk cutter comprising a substantially rectangular frame including parallel spaced longitudinal members of channel cross section'with their channels facing inwardly, means for holding saidlongitudinal members in position, a plurality of transverse bridging members, the ends of which a are adapted to seat in the channelsVV of said longitudinal members, means for adjustablysecuring said bridging members in selected positions Y and stalk cutters rotatably Vmounted on said bridging members.

2. A stalk cutter as'specied in claim 1 in which the means for spacing the longitudinal members comprise a plurality of spaced arch brace members rlxedly secured by their opposite ends to similar faces of the longitudinal members, van axle member extending lengthwise of the frame centrally Vof the arch members and. Y

rigidly secured on the outer face of each of said www f i are rotatablyy'mountedon the opposite free-ends box including bottom and side members, the bot.- tom formed of parallel spaced members adapted to seat on the arch members on each side -ofthe axle, with wedge blocks on the under face of said bottom members shaped conform With-and en gage the arch members. Y f Y 4. A stalk cuttery comprising a rectangular frame including parallel spaced longitudinal'VA members of channel cross section with their channels facing inwardly, a tongue of channel cross lsection extending transversely and medially offsaid .longitudinal membersfandrigidly secured thereto, transverse` arch4 members'tarranged in parallel Vspaced .relation and securedby their. ends to said longitudinal members, an.-;axle `secured medially toeach of Vthearchrnembers, tract-ion wheels rotatably 'mounted on Athe ends of the laxle,

transverse bridge membersadiustably supported by their ends in the channels of the longitudinal members, rotary cutters, journals for the cutters carried by the bridge members and a weight box including side and bottom members, the bottom 5 formed with a slot adapted to receive the axle and having wedge blocks conforming in shape with the arch members. .Y

5. A stalk 1, cutter comprising a rectangular frame kincluding parallel spaced longitudinal l0 members and transverse bridge members, trans- ,verse arch members secured by their ends to the v"""longitudinal members, an axle secured medially fto each arch member, traction Wheels on the axle,

rotary cutters vjournalled on the bridge members l5 andaweightibox including side and bottom memfliers, thevbottomormed with a s1ot adapted to receive the'axle and having wedge blocks con- I ,forming in 'shape with the arch members.

6. Akweight box for stalk cutters, comprising "20 bottom and side members, the bottom consisting of spaced parallel members` adapted to2 engageV an axle between theirladjacent edges, Witharcu ate'shapedrwedge members positioned on the bottom members iin-transverse alignment and in 25 pairs spaced longitudinally of the bottom,

' PATICK H. LYNCH, Js. AGrzortofn R. MCKAY. 

